Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. "Space Oddity", released in 1969, was his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Bowie's single "Starman" and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as "plastic soul", initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the album Young Americans. In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the "Berlin Trilogy". "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.
After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and "Under Pressure" (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved massive commercial success in the 1980s starting with Let's Dance (1983). Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with The Next Day. He remained musically active until his death from liver cancer at his home in New York City. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016).
During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In the UK, he was awarded ten platinum, eleven gold and eight silver album certifications, and released 11 number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie
Studio albums
David Bowie (1967)
David Bowie/Space Oddity (1969)
The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Hunky Dory (1971)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Pin Ups (1973)
Diamond Dogs (1974)
Young Americans (1975)
Station to Station (1976)
Low (1977)
"Heroes" (1977)
Lodger (1979)
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
Let's Dance (1983)
Tonight (1984)
Never Let Me Down (1987)
Black Tie White Noise (1993)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
Outside (1995)
Earthling (1997)
Hours (1999)
Heathen (2002)
Reality (2003)
The Next Day (2013)
Blackstar (2016)
John I'm Only Dancing
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Oh move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Dancing
Won't someone dance with me?
Touch me, ohh
"John I'm Only Dancing" is a song by David Bowie that was recorded in September 1972 during the sessions for "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" but remained unreleased until April 1973. It was then released as a single in the UK and reached number 12 on the charts. The song is often interpreted as being about homosexuality and sexual freedom, which was a controversial topic at the time.
The opening lines of the song describe two characters, Annie and Joe, who are being introduced by the singer. Annie is described as a neat eater and Joe is said to be very strong, although the singer implies that he might be putting on a show. The chorus then kicks in, with the singer addressing someone called John and telling him that he's only dancing with a girl who is turning him on but doesn't get the wrong idea. The verses continue with abstract lyrics that mention "shadow love" and how life is like a well-thumbed machine. The singer is implying that he wants more than just dancing, but he is limited by societal norms and expectations.
One interpretation of the song is that it's about Bowie coming to terms with his sexuality and trying to express himself in a world where homosexuality was still very much taboo. The singer of the song is torn between his desire for physical intimacy with another man and the fear of being judged and rejected by a society that doesn't accept him. The chorus, "John, I'm only dancing," is a defense mechanism, a way to deflect suspicion and preserve his image. Bowie himself later said that the song was "a kind of throwaway" and that he didn't put much thought into the lyrics. However, the song remains a fan favorite and a testament to Bowie's talent for creating catchy pop hooks with deeper meanings.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Annie's pretty neat, she always eats her meat
Annie is a nice and well-behaved person who is not picky about what she eats
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Joe is extremely strong and seems to be playing a joke on us
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
I am feeling very lonely and in need of affection
Oh move me, touch me
I am desiring physical contact and intimacy
John, I'm only dancing
I am only dancing and not engaging in any inappropriate behavior
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
Although I am attracted to her, I am only dancing and not acting on my feelings
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I am acknowledging my attraction but also clarifying that I am not doing anything about it
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
My previous romantic relationship was brief but passionate, and life feels routine and monotonous
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
I noticed you watching me from afar and it reminded me of everyone who has ever cared about me
Dancing
I am enjoying the act of dancing and the freedom it brings
Won't someone dance with me?
I am inviting someone to join me in the joy of dancing
Touch me, ohh
I am still yearning for physical touch and closeness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Guy
A Splendid performance from
Our Mr David Bowie . . .
Taken from us Long before his time. .
Gone but Never forgotten
R.i.P David
The Legacy you Left,
Never will be Lost,
We’ll Keep the Flame Bright Whatever the cost,
Now you have joined the greats in a better place,
On our Lives is an indelible trace .
i think of you when i Hear those songs.
Thinking of a better future that we all Long for. . .
Theresa Pierce
One of the most beautiful creatures to ever bless the earth, the one and only David Bowie. RIP Ziggy Stardust
dickbagger
✨✨⭐
ian thompson
Sometimes 🤣🤣
alla rumi
Amen 💜
Lit Romney 🌈
He's just a starman now
Freecloud
Amazing how this track sounds even better now than it did 50 years ago ! Like so many of Bowie's songs, they haven't aged at all...in fact, they still sound daring and original. What a genius he was.
Andrew McBrinn
One of the great underrated tracks of all time. This, Lady Stardust and Ziggy Stardust are the 3 that sum up the Ziggy era.
ShaggyDog
Velvet Goldmine has to be in there as well.
Nicolas H
Suffragette City?
Julian Coquelet
ShaggyDog Moonage Dream: am I a joke to you?